NEWBURGH, NY – The winning streak may be over, but the Mount Saint Mary College baseball team still got off to a fast start in the Skyline Conference this weekend, splitting a pair of games with Farmingdale State College on Saturday before sweeping two games from Yeshiva University on Saturday. The Blue Knights now stand at 12-1 overall.

On Saturday, senior Michael Redmond (Stone Ridge, N.Y.) pitched the Mount to a 4-2 victory in the first game of the double-header. Redmond allowed two runs on nine hits and struck out five in seven innings of work to pick up his fourth victory of the season. He scattered six hits through the first six innings before allowing three hits and two runs in the seventh inning.

The Blue Knights scratched out a run in the third inning when senior Brian Visconti (Newburgh, N.Y.) knocked home sophomore Billy Casey (Marlboro, N.Y.) with a single to center field. They would tack on three more in the fifth, stringing together four singles and two stolen bases. Senior Jim Marsh (Maybrook, N.Y.) led off with a single and then moved to second on a sacrifice from Casey. Freshman Max Tecce (Glen Cove, N.Y.) singled to right, moving up Marsh, who then scored on an opposite field single from junior Mike Umphlett (North Stonington, Conn.). Sophomore Louis Peisel (Brewster, N.Y.) delivered the big hit of the inning, knocking home a pair of runs with a two-out single to right field.

Freshman Ben Shortslef (Sterling, N.Y.) worked his way out of a first-and-third situation in the eighth inning to maintain the two run lead. Junior Chris Gage (Saugerties, N.Y.) found a way out of second-and-third in the ninth inning, striking out two to earn his third save of the season.

In the second game, Farmingdale scored the first seven runs of the game and didn't look back, taking a 12-3 decision. Sophomore Kevin Curtis (Riverhead, N.Y.) and freshman Frank Scarlato (Holbrook, N.Y.) each drove home three runs for the Rams. Three Farmingdale pitchers combined to limit the Blue Knights to just seven hits.

During Sunday's first game against Yeshiva University, the Blue Knights scored runs in each of the first four innings and then plated ten runs in the sixth inning on their way to a 22-3 victory. Peisel and freshman Brian McNoble (Lynbrook, N.Y.) went 3-for-5 at the plate. Peisel collected three RBIs and scored twice while McNoble drove home two and scored three times. Casey was 2-for-4 with 4 RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Tecce and Visconti drove in three runs each.

Freshman Dan McCrea (Hicksville, N.Y.) struck out seven in five innings to pick up the win for the Mount. Senior Scott Francis (Pawcatuck, Conn.) allowed one hit in two innings of relief and freshman Carl Henchey (Coxsackie, N.Y.) worked two perfect innings, striking out five.

In game two, the Blue Knights scored three runs in the third and three runs in the fourth to rally from an early deficit. They eased to a 7-4 win and the sweep of the Maccabees.

Tecce and Umphlett came through with RBI singles in the second inning, but it was McNoble who had the biggest hit of the game in the third inning. After a leadoff walk by senior Matthew Germann (Islip, N.Y.) and an ensuing single by Peisel, McNoble drilled a triple to score both runners and give the Blue Knights a 5-3 advantage. The freshman drove home another run in the fourth inning with a single to right. He finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a pair of runs scored.

Junior Brian O'Connor (Campbell Hall, N.Y.) pitched five innings to claim the victory for the Mount. He allowed just two earned runs and struck out six. Shortslef worked a scoreless inning, striking out three and Gage pitched a perfect inning to close the door. He set a new school record with his fourth save of the season.

The Mount will have just one day off before returning to non-conference action this week. They'll host Albertus Magnus on Tuesday, March 24 and Vassar College on Wednesday, March 25 before returning to conference play next weekend. Both games are scheduled for 5:00 p.m. starts at Delano-Hitch Stadium.